Years ago we had a great backpacker companion. The Samoyed carried his own gear and food and most of the tent. It was a Eureka 4-man Timberline...specious with enough room for the three of us. We used a simple painters' drop cloth for a ground cloth but inside we used one of the heavier 'survival' blankets to cover the floor; Thermos Sportsman Blanket. That provided added insulation and eliminated any potential problems from the dog's nails.

The tent itself is one of my all time favorites. Lots of room, easy set-up, etc. It's too heavy (@~8 lbs) for my camping now (no dog to carry it) but it's style, weather bomb proofness, and cost all made it a winner for us. See it in the Campmor catalog.

FB